North West Counties Premier Division

Whitchurch Alport 3

Charnock Richard 2

Luke Goddard's 100th match in charge of Whitchurch Alport was full of excitement and drama as an Arron Johns winner from close range sealed a comeback win with just seconds remaining.

A season's best attendance of 305 saw Whitchurch take the lead after 19 minutes when Matty Ashbrook was on hand to score at the far post from a Tim Sanders's free-kick.

But only four minutes later the visitors equalised when Alex Ralph crossed for Jake Higham to score past a helpless Dave Parton. Alex Hughes had a goal ruled out when the linesman failed to spot the ball at least a yard over the goalline so the two teams went in level at the break.

There was a milestone moment on 53 minutes as Charnock went in front. Higham found Carl Grimshaw unmarked and he had the simple task of turning the ball into the net with Parton given no chance at all.

It was the striker's 400th goal for Charnock which is an achievement to be rightly proud of.

At this stage of the game Alport struggled to make any kind of impression but they were thrown a lifeline after Jack Sanders tried to find Adam Halton but his backpass was short and Johns nipped in between the two to roll the ball into an unguarded net.

The whole dynamics of the game changed at that moment and by the time the added on minutes were applied, the away side were looking increasingly shaky at the back.

In the fourth minute of time adde-on, Joe Howell found himself in on goal and with a clear chance to make himself a match winner.

The midfielder, however, was unselfish and crossed for a grateful Johns to take one touch before stroking the ball into the net from a couple of yards.

What a day for Goddard and his team not to mention the home supporters. As for Johns, who started the game on the bench, a brace was the perfect way to send a reminder to the boss that he was perfectly capable of playing in a striker's role.